Absa Graduates Earn Digital Skills From Strathmore

Absa Bank Kenya and Strathmore University witnessed the graduation of 105 Absa staff from the Strathmore University-Absa Financial Innovation (SUAFI) Programme.

The April 2023 pioneering programme equipped participants with advanced digital skills, positioning them to navigate technological advancements, adapt to evolving market dynamics, and meet shifting customer demands. The SUAFI Programme covered a comprehensive curriculum, encompassing courses in cybersecurity, data science, business intelligence, automation, and DevOps.

At the graduation ceremony held at Strathmore University, Mumbi Kahindo, the People Function and Culture Director at Absa Bank Kenya, celebrated the accomplishment as a significant milestone in the bank’s ongoing partnership with Strathmore University. The collaboration aims to ensure that Absa employees remain relevant in the ever-evolving workplace, particularly in the face of emerging banking technologies demanding new digital competencies.

Kahindo said, “Today marks a beautiful joint achievement of a key milestone by Absa’s partnership with Strathmore University, an initiative that seeks to ensure that our colleagues are upskilled with the necessary future-proofing skills that will enable them to adapt to an ever-dynamic workplace environment.” She added, “With automation, artificial intelligence, data science, and digitalisation becoming increasingly prevalent, organisations must adapt to these advancements to thrive. Upskilling colleagues with the knowledge and expertise required to leverage new technologies effectively therefore becomes a necessity.”

Dr John Olukuru, the Head of Data Science and Analytics at Strathmore, highlighted the significance of investing in business intelligence and data science skills. “Data has been termed as the oil that needs to be refined to petrol through analytics. It is wonderful to see Absa making big investments in business intelligence and data science skills and knowledge of their employees who will now be able to mine data, analyse the data to get relevant information and lessons that will enable the organisation to create the best experience and impact for their customers.”

The Talent Development Programme, co-developed by Absa Bank and Strathmore Business School, attracted 500 applications. The first cohort of 107 employees underwent mandatory Agile and Scrum Methodology training before specialising in their respective fields. The initiative aligns with Absa Bank’s brand purpose while emphasising a human-centric approach to employee empowerment through continuous learning.

The graduation follows Absa Bank’s recent recognition by the Top Employers Institute as an employer of choice not just in Kenya but also in Africa, for the third consecutive year while reinforcing its commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace.